Fat emulsion
Fat Emulsion
Fat emulsion (pronunciation: /fæt ɪˈmʌlʃən/) is a type of intravenous therapy used to provide lipids to individuals who are unable to get these nutrients through their diet.
Etymology
The term "fat emulsion" is derived from the Latin word "emulsio", meaning "to milk out", and the English word "fat", which refers to a group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water.
Definition
A fat emulsion is a solution made up of fatty acids, glycerol, and other lipids, which are essential for the body's metabolic processes. These emulsions are often used in parenteral nutrition to provide a concentrated source of calories and essential fatty acids when oral intake is inadequate or not possible.
Usage
Fat emulsions are used in the medical field for patients who are unable to eat or absorb nutrients through their digestive system. This can be due to a variety of conditions, such as malabsorption syndromes, severe burns, or during recovery from major surgery.
Related Terms
- Intravenous therapy: The infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein.
- Lipids: A group of naturally occurring molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins, monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, and phospholipids.
- Parenteral nutrition: The feeding of a person intravenously, bypassing the usual process of eating and digestion.
- Fatty acids: Carboxylic acids with long aliphatic chains, which are either saturated or unsaturated.
- Glycerol: A simple polyol compound, which is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is sweet-tasting and non-toxic.
- Malabsorption syndromes: Any disorder in which the small intestine cannot absorb enough of certain nutrients and fluids.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Fat emulsion
- Wikipedia's article - Fat emulsion
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